Are you a college professor looking for a new book to include in your syllabus for the upcoming semester? Medical Gaslighting might be just the fit you’re looking for. Interested in examining the book yourself? Credentialed professors can request a free copy for review.
What questions does Medical Gaslighting answer for students?
- What are health disparities and how do the impact care of the modern American woman?
- What role do medical ethics play in how female patients are treated versus how male patients are treated?
- What rights to patients have in a hospital, in a medical facility, and in the practice of pain management?
- What studies have been conducted over the last twenty years to help us identify power imbalances in women’s health?
- When is the mistreatment of patients the result of medical bias and when is it the result of the necessity of law, policy, or supply ?
- How can patients form a cohesive argument to better defend their need for medical care, treatment, and guidance?
What key themes are seen in Medical Gaslighting?
- Historical & Systemic Medical Gaslighting
- The history of dismissing women’s pain and symptoms in medicine.
- Gendered assumptions in medical research and practice.
- The role of hysteria and psychosomatic diagnoses in shaping medical attitudes.
- Intersectionality in Medical Care
- How race, socioeconomic status, disability, and gender identity impact the experience of medical gaslighting.
- The compounded effects of bias for women of color, LGBTQ+ patients, and chronically ill individuals.
- Women’s Autonomy & Patient Advocacy
- The challenges of self-advocacy in a paternalistic medical system.
- How women navigate medical skepticism and push for their own diagnoses and treatment.
- The role of support networks in patient empowerment.
- Medical Ethics & Institutional Accountability
- The role of doctors, hospitals, and medical boards in perpetuating or preventing gaslighting.
- The legal and ethical obligations of healthcare providers.
- The impact of medical malpractice lawsuits and policy reform on patient care.
- The Psychological & Physical Toll of Medical Gaslighting
- The long-term effects of being dismissed or misdiagnosed.
- The link between medical trauma, mental health, and trust in healthcare systems.
- Strategies for trauma-informed care and rebuilding patient-doctor trust.
Class Discussion Questions
- Historical Perspectives: How has the history of women’s health influenced the way women are treated in medicine today?
- Intersectionality: How do race, class, and disability shape experiences of medical gaslighting? Are some women more likely to be dismissed than others?
- Medical Research & Gender Bias: Why are women often underrepresented in medical studies, and how does this affect diagnosis and treatment?
- Ethics & Accountability: What ethical obligations do doctors have when a patient feels dismissed? How should medical schools train doctors to recognize and prevent gaslighting?
- Advocacy & Systemic Change: What can patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers do to reduce instances of medical gaslighting?
- Personal Agency: What strategies can patients use to advocate for themselves in medical settings? How effective are second opinions and self-research?
- Media & Cultural Influence: How do media portrayals of women’s health issues contribute to or challenge medical gaslighting?
- Personal Reflection: Have you or someone you know experienced medical gaslighting? How did it shape their health outcomes and trust in the system?
Professor Resource Guide (For Download)
Download the Free Professor Resource Guide for Medical Gaslighting by clicking here.
To request a free copy for review please use your academic email to send your mailing address, name and class titles to ilanawrites@gmail.com.